Farrakhan & Cliff Kelley LIVE interview on Thursday April 2

Islam's Influence on Hip Hop Culture - A Forum

Some of the participants in the forum are pictured above (L-R) Brother J of the X-Clan, (rear) Enoch Muhammad of  Hip Hop Detoxx, Wise Intelligent of the Poor Righteous Teachers, Y.B., forum coordinator Tonja Styles-Muhammad of PoliticalSwagger.com, DeeDee Murray of the K.I.N.G Foundation, Kenny "The Human Orchestra" Muhammad and Hasaun Muhammad.

Words of Wisdom

“Sometimes, students of a great master teacher don’t even realize what the teacher has put in them until the teacher leaves, because they become so dependent on the teacher, they don’t activate the power that they really have to do the same great things that the teacher is doing. The master teacher is not trying to get you to worship him, he’s trying to get you to follow him and worship only the one who is deserving to be worshipped, and that is Almighty God Allah.”

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
March 8, 2009
Mosque Maryam
Chicago, Illinois

T.I. & PoliticalSwagger.com in Houston for "Give Back Your Gun Day"

The K.I.N.G Foundation, Political Swagger and The C.H.A.N.G.E Initiative Present

"Responsibility Is A Lifestyle: Give Back Your Gun Day"

HOUSTON, TX--T.I. and the K.I.N.G. Foundation are partnering with the Political Swagger Foundation and the C.H.A.N.G.E. Initiative in a call to service to engage elected officials, community organizers, artists, and every American citizen to accept responsibility to build safer communities.  

In an effort to take guns off the streets of Houston, TX, the Grammy award winner, T.I. and his, K.I.N.G. Foundation  are hosting the Responsibility Is A Lifestyle: Give Back Your Gun Day on Saturday, March 14, 2009. Anyone with an unregistered weapon will be allowed to drop it off without penalty at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3015 North MacGregor Way, beginning at 11am; then join T.I. for a community rally at Texas Southern University.

According to a recent study released by Northeastern University, between 2002 and 2007, the number of black male juveniles murdered nationally increased by 31 percent and the number of black perpetrators by 43 percent. The increases were even greater, the report said, when guns were used as weapons.

Focusing on the period between 2000-01 and 2006-07, the study found Houston at the top of a list of 28 U.S. cities, with a 139 percent increase in the number of young African-Americans suspected in killings. (*Houston Chronicle)

“Instead of walking with guns, I now have to walk with God”, says T.I. The Responsibility Is A Lifestyle: Give Back Your Gun Day is being organized by the Political Swagger Foundation and The CHANGE Initiative with T.I.’s K.I.N.G. Foundation.

“Every era of great change has had its music and the artists have always been at the forefront of that change; from John Lennon to Marvin Gaye. Today, T.I. is using his influence to affect change and we’re excited to join him. The responsibility is on us,” said Tonja Styles, Founder of The Political Swagger Foundation.

Co-Founder of the CHANGE Initiative and recording artist, Radiant Amar, learned first hand of the impact of gun violence; when he was involved in a shoot-out at age 14. He spent nearly two years in the Houston Juvenile Detention Center and the Texas Youth Commission because of his crime. “When you pick up a gun all roads lead to an end. When you put it down, that will prove to be your best beginning,” said Radiant.

Other community partners include Texas Southern University, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Radio-One 97.9 The Box, Houston Police Department, Councilmember Jarvis Johnson, Jahaanah Productions, Mobile Regime, Houston NAACP, Millions More Movement Ministry of Justice, and more.

ABOUT THE K.I.N.G. FOUNDATION:

The mission of Grand Hustle's K.I.N.G. (Kids In Need of Giving) Foundation is to provide support to low-income families with emphasis on basic needs for children and family support programs that provide services to struggling youth and families through out the world. 

 

The organization was established to serve youth that face an uncertain future through positive intervention, community and family support.  The K.I.N.G. Foundation is developing specific programs with focus on youth mentoring and intervention, community outreach and scholastic enrichment.  Visit them @ www.thekingfoundation.com 

ABOUT THE POLITICAL SWAGGER FOUNDATION:

The Political Swagger Foundation seeks to harness the growing political savvy of the hip hop generation to serve as a catalyst for change. Political Swagger is dedicated to the empowerment and development of the new youth voter bloc through education, mentorship and civic engagement. The foundation also encourages "responsibility" as a "lifestyle" socially, politically and economically among today's youth. Visit them @ www.politicalswagger.com

Malik Zulu Shabazz on Farrakhan's call to "Accept Responsibility to Build Our Community"

MALIK ZULU SHABAZZ
(Photo: Kenneth Muhammad)

Ashahed M. Muhammad: Brother Malik, the message you just heard from Minister Farrakhan, what are your thoughts, what's your reaction?

Malik Zulu Shabazz: It was extremely powerful, he covered everything from Pres. Barack Obama, what he can do and what he cannot do. He (Farrakhan) got down to what we should do for our people. He gave an excellent analysis on Israel and the influence of the Israeli lobby and Zionists on the United States government. I say all the way around it was a divine message.
He has inspired me greatly to go back to work and I will do whatever I can, and anybody that I am connected with, we will help him with whatever we can. He is still the leader of the hour and I am talking to all Black people all over the earth and all oppressed people.

NYOIL Speaks on Farrakhan's call to "Accept Responsibility to Build Our Community"

NYOIL
(Photo: Mikal Veale)

Ashahed M. Muhammad: What are your thoughts on the message you just heard from Minister Farrakhan?

NYOIL: Well what I think he (Farrakhan) is doing at this particular point is delivering a message that requires us to consolidate. This is something that is important to my company, Petroleum Empire Media Group. It's constant consolidation, something that Dr. Ron Daniels taught me which was cooperation without conformity; which means that we don't have to bow down to the exact same thing but we can still cooperate and get things done. Working in that capacity, I just see that message coming across, the opportunity being present.

The Nation of Islam represents hundreds of thousands of brothers and sisters that would be the market that an artist like myself is looking for. The audience that I am looking to speak to and represent; the model of what conscious, cultural and positive teachings can be and mean for us. I just thought his message was phenomenal. When I first heard him at the State of the Black World II--live that is--he validated much of what I believed and he just continues to do so and he inspires me. I am ready to work harder. I am fired up and ready to go!

For more info, go to www.NYOIL.com.